Clothes-pounder.



P. A. RUPPELT.

CLOTHES POUNDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2s. 101s.

1, 1 07,707, Patented Aug. 18, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. A. RUPPBLT. CLOTHES POUNDER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2a, 1913.

Patented Aug. 18, 191% Z SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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PHILIP? A. RUPPELT, OF STEAMBOAT ROCK, IOWA.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Auf. 18, 1914.

Application filed September 23, 1913. Serial No. 791,263.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, PHiLIPr A. R'UPPELT, a citizen of the United States, residing a\ Steambo-at Rock, in the county of Hardin and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes- Pounders, of which the following is a speci ication.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes pounders, the object of the invention being to provide a pounder which will operate through the action of air both on the downward stroke and on the upward stroke to thoroughly cleanse the clothes.

A further object is to provide an improved clothes pounder which may be taken apart and packed in a small space, and which is especially designed for use by enlisted men in the navy and others who have but relatively small storage space.

ITVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical sec' tion. Fig. 3 is a view in section on an enlarged scale on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a top view of the lower cup member detached. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view, and IC ig. 6 is a perspective view of the valve 8.

My improved clothes pounder comprises two cups 1 and 2, the former located above and surrounding the upper portion of cup 1. This cup 1 is provided with diagonal partitions 3 dividing the cup into a plurality of chambers, and each of these chambers communicates with the interior of the upper cup 2 through the medium of an opening 4 in the top of the cup 1. In other words, the cup 1 has a plurality of openings 1 in the top, so that the air is free to circulate through the cup 1 into cup 2. Around the outside of cup 1, ribs 5 are fixed and serve to space the peripheries of the cups 1 and 2 apart, so that the air and water is free to circulate between the cups.

A screw-threaded plug 6 is provided on the lower cup 1 at its center, and said plug is adapted to screw into a threaded socket 7 fixed to the inner face of cup 2 at the center of the latter, so that this plug 6 and socket 7 constitute the coupling means between the cups and permits the cups to be readily separated when the pounder is to be packed away.

On the top of cup 2, preferably at one side thereof, I provide a valve 8 which is movable in a valve chamber 9, and is confined by a screwthreaded cap l0. This cap 10 has an opening 11 therein through which the stem 12 of valve 8 projects. The stem 12 extends at both sides of the valve and also projects through an opening 13 in a perforated partition 14, in valve casing 9. IVhen the pounder is forced downwardly through the water, the valve S will move up against the cap 10, and prevent 'any passage of air through `the top of cup 2, but as the pounder reaches its upward stroke, the valve will move in the. opposite direction, so that air will rush in and relieve the suction which would otherwise occur. j

A screw threaded socket piece 15 is se- :ured to the top of the cup 2 at the center thereof, and is adapted to receive the screwthreaded end 16 of a handle 17, and this handle may be removed when the pounder is not in use.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit 4and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A clothes pounder comprising a lower cup, an upper cup inclosing the upper por tion of the lower cup and spaced from the top thereof, webs extending longitudinally of the lower cup and spacing the walls of the cups apart, said lower cup having a plurality of openings in its top and said upper cup having a single valved opening in its top, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence o two subscribing witnesses.

PIIILIPP A. RUPPELT.

IVitnesses Jol-1N Ciminna, HENRY CRAMER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

Commissioner of IPatents,

invention, 

